Note 46 — Chapter XII

I knew a brave worthy Gentleman abroad, who above forty Years past thus preserved his Life, after receiving the Bite of a large Rattle-Snake, by resolutely cutting it and the Flesh surrounding it out, with a sharp pointed Penknife.—Perhaps those who would not suffer the Application of the actual Cautery, that is, of a red hot Iron (which certainly promises well for a Cure) might be persuaded to admit of a potential Cautery, where the Bite was inflicted on a fleshy Part. Though even this is far from being unpainful, yet the Pain coming on more gradually, is less terrifying and horrid. And when it had been applied quickly after, and upon the Bite, and kept on for 3 or 4 Hours, the Discharge, after cutting the Eschar, would sooner ensue, and in more Abundance, than that from the actual Cautery; the only Preference of which seems to consist in its being capable perhaps of absorbing, or otherwise consuming, all the poisonous Saliva at once. This Issue should be dressed afterwards according to our Author's Direction; and in the gradual healing of the Ulcer, it may be properly deterged by adding a little Præcipitate to the Digestive. Neither would this interfere with the Exhibition of the Tonquin Powder Nº. 30, nor the antispasmodic Bolus Nº. 31, if they should be judged necessary. And these perhaps might prove the most certain Means of preventing the mortal Effects of this singular animal Poison, which it is so impossible to analyze, and so extremely difficult to form any material Idea of; but which is not the Case of some other Poisons. K.